159 replies to this topic

[parklady]

OK, is it just me or are the rules for driving the highways and roads different here than in other areas of this state? I don't get it. Sorry to say it but I think drivers in the Sacramento are not only the rudest but they are downright dangerous. I can't tell you how many times I have been cut in front of with no warning or room and watch numerous commuters weave their way in and out of traffic to get where they are going every morning. It is downright dangerous, but it seems to be a way of life here. Yesterday on the way home from the Bay Area I witnessed 2 cars doing this to the point that they became enraged at each other, went barreling down the highway over 100 mph in opposing lanes barely missing traffic in their way, then tried to run the other off the highway while one of the cars lost control and crashed into the middle divider. The other took off. If we had not seen it coming from behind, we would have crashed head on into them. Come on people, nothing can be that serious to risk your life over, not to say the number of people they could have killed watching it.

[Lembi Resident]

Parklady - Thank goodness you're OK.

No, you are not the only one who is trying to figure out what the problem is with drivers in the Sacramento area. My husband comes home stressed every night, not from his job, but from his commute downtown. We have both witnessed incidents similar to the one you mentioned. -- What is going on?!

My husband and I were both raised in the Bay Area, and spent 10 yrs. in LA. We never saw such rude and dangerous drivers in either area as we see in Sacto.

Any theories as to why?

[cybertrano]

I drove to work today around 5:30 am, and I saw a car ran the red light at the intersection of Praire City and the Intel entrance heading toward the the freeway.

I work very close to downtown, at the intersection of P Street and Alhambra Blvd. . This particular intersection has had about 10 accidents that I witnessed since I started working here in 2000. I am not kidding you daddio.

I live here in the Sacramento/Folsom since 1991 and I definitely see the changes in traffics. More excitements.

[Lembi Resident]

We've only been in Folsom a short 7 years, and the change has been noticeable.

Could it be due to all of us "transplants," trying to flee the congestion of the Bay Area? Do some see a little open space and interpret it as an invitation to lose all reason behind the wheel? -- The reason has got to be more than just overly-congested roads.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Nope, this is not as bad as southern California by any means. Not close at all.

[folsomBlondie]

Yes "open space" yes.

My car insurance agent told me 6 years ago that the rate for the Valley drivers are higher than the Bay area because Sacramento has a higher rate of accidents. It's because of the "open and flat space".... something to that effect. Additionally we have more "transplants" moving to Sacramento.

Ok now "transplants" - go back home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lembi Resident]

I really hate being in that "transplant" category. Well, my son was born in Sacto. -- Could I call call myself the mother of a native son?

Besides, as my father is quick to remind me, I did defect to LA LA Land for 10 years. Since I've moved north, maybe I'm an immigrant.(?)

... I wish everyone on the roads would just BEHAVE!

[Steve Heard]

Although I've only lived here since 01, I've been visiting family here since about 1990. I've always noticed the higher driving speeds up here. I think it is due to the big wide freeways. I've noticed since I was a child that if you take kids out to a park with a big open field, the first thing most of them do is run across it as fast as they can. Same thing with grownups and open freeways. Some of the worst I've seen was in Dallas.

With the growing traffic, however, you have people who are used to driving fast, now challenged by more cars, so the weave in and out.

You do have others, however, who still aren't convinced that going over 55mph is safe, and they'll get in the fast lane and, to be even safer, do 50.

[folsomBlondie]

I was just kidding about "transplant". I am a transplant too - from Boston and Florida

Without argue, THE worst are in Boston and New York. I drove in pretty much all big cities in the country. I lived for 3 years in Boston and when I started driving there I literally got scared!!!! Until I got used to the driving there and became part of their nightmare hehehehe.

When I just moved here from Boston, people though I was nut!!!!

[Eric]

QUOTE (stevethedad @ Feb 9 2004, 08:17 AM)

You do have others, however, who still aren't convinced that going over 55mph is safe, and they'll get in the fast lane and, to be even safer, do 50.

That's definitely one of my pet peeves. The other, and I just can't understand any rationale for it, is when people cut you off (so bad that if you hadn't hit your brakes, they'd rip the front of your car off), and when you honk at them, they flip you off!!!

[RANT]
Look jerk, you cut me off, now you're being a bigger jerk and flipping me off... why? what would possess you to do that? This constantly happens w/ SUVs... if the blind spot is that bad, they're not safe to drive... and there's so many of them out there now! It seems like the worse the driver, the bigger the car/truck/SUV they have to have...
[/RANT]

[forumreader]

Boston....EEEKS! I remember the days when I needed to make an annual business trip there. On my first visit, I made the mistake of renting a car for the drive from Logan to Worcester -- white knuckles all the way!... After that it was taxis and shuttles! (Traffic aside, it is a great city!)

So, yes, Sacramento could be worse... But not much!

[folsomBlondie]

QUOTE (forumreader @ Feb 9 2004, 09:03 AM)

Boston....EEEKS!  I remember the days when I needed to make an annual business trip there.  On my first visit, I made the mistake of renting a car for the drive from Logan to Worcester -- white knuckles all the way!... After that it was taxis and shuttles!  (Traffic aside, it is a great city!) So, yes, Sacramento could be worse... But not much!

I ain't lie, ain't I?..... hehehe.

I couldn't wait to get out of Boston after three years.

This is where I used to work:
http://www.hanscom.af.mil/default.asp

[Chad Vander Veen]

Steve, please show me where the "big wide freeways" are so I can take them to work. Being a socal native, 4 lanes is not big to me. I need 6 on both sides! 50 is barely more than a county road once you're past Rancho.

[DalOwnerX3]

The freeways are big and wide relative to the East Coast. Those freeways are usually 4-lanes wide (two for each direction) and in shoddy condition due to the weather causing pot holes.

I think Sacramento's drivers are perceived worse is that we still have stretches of freeway where people can speed up and weave in and out of traffice. In the Bay Area, it's so crowded that I doubt you can really get up enough speed to do any damage.

[Steve Heard]

cvander

I think Dalowner has it right. Despite our increasing traffic, freeways are more open here, and compared to the width and condition of many Bay Area freeways, this here is the wide open spaces!